Improvement in folding tables



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" Foldingsramm l Patented Feb. 9,1875.

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Patented Feb. 9,1875.

UNITED STATES vPAT:ENfr Orron.

HENRY YORK, on PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN FoLmNc TABLES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 159,737, dated February9, 1875; application filed October 31, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY YORK, of the city and county of Philadelphia,and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement inFolding Tables; and I dor hereby declare the following to be a clear andexact description of the nature thereof, sufficient to enable othersskilled in the art to which my invention appertains to fully understand,make, and use the saine, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings making part of this specification, in which- Figure l is abottom view of the device embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a similarView, showing the parts folded. Fig. 3 is an end view thereof. Fig. 4 isa side view of the table, the parts unfolded. Fig. 5 is a top or planview. p

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the severalfigures.

My invention relates to a table serviceable for games, railroad,household, and other purposes; and consists in legs, which are hinged to.the table, and firmly held extended by stretchers, also hinged to thetable at right angles to the legs, the top of the legs being connectedat their outer faces by narrow or thin strips, so that spaces are formedbetween said strips and the under side of the table for the stowage ofthe stretchers and bottom ends of one pair of legs, the under side ofthe table being left solid or uncut, a fastening being so arranged thatit will lock or enga-ge with 011e set of legs, and thus all of thefolding parts of the table will be locked.

Referring to the drawings, Arepresents the top of the table, and B B'the legs, which are hinged to the under side thereof. The pair of legs Bis connected at top by a strip, C, which is shorter than the strip C',which connects the tops of the legs B', so tliatwhen the legs are closedon the table the pair B will lie within the pair B', and both pairs foldfiat on the table. To the under side of the table there are hingedstretcher-bars D, which extend transverscly and move laterally or atright an gles to the legs B B', and are adapted in unfolding to bearagainst the strips C C' of the legs B B', in order to hold extended thesaid legs when the table is to be supported thereon. The strips C C' areconnected to the outer faces of the tops of the legs B B', respectively,or said strips are narrower than the thickness of said tops in thelongitudinal direction thereof, so that there is left between each stripand an imaginary line drawn across the inner faces of the top a space,E, whereby, when the legs are folded, the ends 'of the stretchers D arepermitted to occupy the spaces E E. In this position of parts the endsof the legs B also `occupy the space ofthe strip C of the legs B',

is required for service thelegs B B' are opened out to full extent, andthe stretchers D unfolded, so as to bear against the strips C C' of thelegs, thus holding the legs and keeping them extended, whereby the tablewill be properly and firmly supported on the legs. 'lo close or fold thetable the stretchcrs are closed ou the table, and the legs B B' alsosuccessively folded thereon.

It will be seen that the stretchers and both pair of lcgs fold flatagainst the table. The ends of the stretchers occupy the spaces E E',formed by the strips C C of the legs, so that said strips fold fiat onthe stretchers. The ends of the legs B also enter the space formed bythe strip C' of the leg B',.and thus do not interfere with the foldingof said strip flat on the adjacent ends of the stretchers D. When thestrip G' reaches its full folded position the latch and keeper F Gengage and thus lock the legs B'.

It will also be seen that when t-he legs B' are locked they lock theends of the legs B, and that the stretchers D will be locked by the twopairs of legs,l so that with a single fastening all of the folding orhinged parts may be securely fastened, the parts folding in a simple andcompact manner.

The under side of the table is cut away to form one or more cavities orchannels, whose sides are inclined, the narrowest part being below, andinto the channels will be removably fitted one or more slidinggame-boards, H, whose sides are also inclined, so that the joints abetween boards and table will be of dovetailed or other locking form.

The board may be readily withdrawn from its place of lod ginent and laidon the table when a gaine is to be played; but when it is no longerrequired it will be slipped into place and the dovetailed joints a holdit therein without the necessity of other fastenings.

it will be seen that the board is suspended from the under side of thetable, and thus concealed when not in use. The dovetail joint rendersfastenings for the board unnecessary, and thus permits the legs to foldflush.

I am aware that it is not new to construct a table with the stretcherfolding under the narrow strips ofthe legs.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Let ters Patent, is

The legs B B', strips C C', and hinged stretcher D, in combination withthe latch F, the stretcher D folding under the strips C C', and the legsB folding under the strip C', substantially as and for the purpose setforth.

JN0. A. WIEDERSHEEM, ALBERT H. HOECKLEY.

